5-Hour Energy drink is popular, but potential health threat

Daniel Tepfer

Updated 9:43 pm, Sunday, November 25, 2012

Various popular energy drinks are for sale on a shelf at K&H food store on Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport, Conn. on Friday November 16, 2012. The FDA has announced that it will investigate the popular drink which has led to 13 deaths and 33 hospitalizations over the past four years.
Photo: Christian Abraham

The popular energy drink Five Hour Energy which is for sale at K&H food store on Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport, Conn. on Friday November 16, 2012. The FDA has announced that it will investigate the popular drink which has led to 13 deaths and 33 hospitalizations over the past four years.
Photo: Christian Abraham

Despite the claimed dangers of 5-Hour Energy drink, local merchants are very protective of the product they admit is a brisk seller.

"If the stuff was really dangerous, the government would make us take it off our shelves and they haven't," said the owner of a North Avenue variety store in Bridgeport, who would only identify himself as Sam. A female customer blurted that her daughter had suffered a seizure after having one of the drinks, but quickly clammed up when the owner gave her a reproachful look.

Andy Trivedi, the owner of Colony News and Lotto in Milford, said they sell three or four of the drinks a day, mostly to young men. But he said he was unaware of any dangers with it.

But according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there have been 13 reports of deaths possibly related to the product over the last four years. The FDA said, however, that it does not have enough information to justify banning the drink.

Andrea Valenti, clinical nutrition manager of Bridgeport Hospital, said she would advise her patients not to use the drink. While the hospital has no reported incidents of patients suffering from the effects of the drinks, she said there is literature warning against the ingestion of high amounts of caffeine, especially by children.

"There is a big concern about the high amount of caffeine in these drinks," she said, pointing out that the small containers contain the same amount of caffeine as a 12-ounce cup of coffee.

Despite the televisions commercials claiming the drinks are safe, Valenti said they are especially dangerous if people have more than one within a short period.

"The biggest problem is that these drinks are very popular with kids and teenagers who often drink more than one within a short period, that's just too much stimulant at one time," she said.

Valenti said the 5-Hour Energy drink is especially dangerous if someone is drinking them with alcohol.

"Because it is a stimulant and because caffeine keeps you alert and stimulated, you can drink more alcohol than you would normally without feeling the effects," she said.

Valenti recommends other ways to keep awake and alert such as a balanced diet, which she said maintains blood sugar levels.